Men's Track & Field

Five seniors, one freshman honored at annual year-end athletics banquet

Apr 28, 2009

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College Department of Athletics held its
annual awards ceremony at Emerson Dining Hall on Tuesday night.
Highlighting the evening was the announcement of the winners of the
department's five major awards, as five seniors and one freshman
representing four different Lyon programs were recognized.
All six earned end-of-the-year honors for the first time.

Seniors Brian Dundon (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield)
and Jennie Pleat (Nashua, NH/Nashua South)
received the Claudia Friese Special Recognition Award, which is
intended to recognize behind-the-scenes dedication to the athletic
program.

The senior athlete awards, which last year were renamed to
acknowledge former Dean of Students Sue Alexander and her 21 years
of support to Wheaton athletics, is presented to a male and female
member of the graduating class who has made a significant
contribution to the success of the Wheaton athletic program,
including participating in intercollegiate athletics or intramural
programs, displaying leadership ability, and providing commitment
and relevant committee work.

Hickey, who became the women's basketball program's all-time
leading scorer with 1,540 points and first four-time all-league
selection earlier this year, led Wheaton to a 17-11 record while
serving in a captain's role for the second straight season. A
two-time all-region player and 2006 New England Women's and Men's
Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Rookie of the Year, Hickey helped lead
the Lyons to consecutive trips to the league tournament
championship game, including in 2007 when the program reached the
NCAA Tournament for the first time in 13 seasons.

Among the conference's top 10 in five statistical categories her
senior year, Hickey paced the team in scoring, field goal
percentage, three-point shooting and free throw percentage.
In addition to finishing her career first in program annals in
points, field goals and three-point shooting, Hickey will graduate
among the top 10 in eight other categories.

A three-year starter for the nationally-ranked baseball team,
Pecora is in the midst of his best season to date, having already
helped the Lyons claim their third regular season league title in
his career. Looking to push Wheaton to a fifth consecutive
trip to the NCAA Tournament, Pecora is among the conference's elite
in several categories, including leading the pack in hits, runs and
doubles. He also stands second in total bases, fourth in
slugging percentage, fifth in batting average, sixth in on-base
percentage and tied for sixth in home runs.

Off the diamond, Pecora is a resident adviser in Metcalf Hall,
where he spearheaded his team's participation in the White Ribbon
Campaign (WRC), which is the largest effort in the world of men
working to end violence against women. A member of the
school's Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Pecora was also the
recent recipient of the Eliza Baylies Chapin Wheaton Leadership
Award, which recognizes students who find or revitalize a program
or office at Wheaton.

Gingras, who earlier today helped pitch the Lyons to victory,
became the second baseball player in as many years to garner the
Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year Award. An All-America
and all-region selection as a junior, Gingras has been victorious
in 13 of his last 15 decisions. The 2008 NEWMAC Pitcher of
the Year is currently 5-2. Entering the week, the righthander
ranked third in the conference in ERA, tied for third in wins, tied
for sixth in starts, seventh in strikeouts and ninth in innings
pitched. For his career, he is seventh in program history in
wins, eighth in innings pitched and tied for 10th in complete
games.

Jusme earned the distinction of becoming the first freshman to
be honored with the Debi Field Athlete Award, which has been given
annually since 1984. An All-America triple jumper during the
NCAA indoor championship, Jusme finished third in the country at
39' 3 3/4" while also qualifying for the national meet in the long
jump at 18' 5". Named Eastern College Athletic Conference
(ECAC) Field Athlete of the Week four times thus far, she has
provisionally qualified for the outdoor national championship in
both the triple and long jumps. Jusme, who won the triple
jump at Saturday's conference meet with a league-record leap of 39'
3 3/4", was named NEWMAC Field Athlete of the Year.

Dundon and Pleat served as the Wheaton Athletic Mentors (WAMs)
Co-Presidents in their third year as members, with Dundon finishing
up his second as co-president. Pleat handled secretary duties
as a junior for the WAMs, which is the school's student-athlete
advisory committee (SAAC). As an officer, Dundon had heavy
involvement in the acquisition of funds for the Big Event, which is
the WAMs' signature event, while Pleat organized many of the
logistics for the event in addition to playing a large role in
introducing superfan T-shirts. Additionally, Pleat was the
recent recipient of the Caroline Cutler Metcalf Leadership Award
The pair has also provided pivotal leadership roles in the current
reorganization of the group's operating structure and constitution.